All-new Evoque takes Range Rover in a new direction

After zipping around in the turbocharged 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Sara Lacey of Cars.com was sold on this mini-crossover. When school-aged kids joined the mix, it may have been a little too mini. Full review & video | Prices & specs

Steven Cole Smith, TRIBUNE NEWSPAPERS

In 2007, Range Rover debuted a show vehicle called the LRX, which many of us appreciated, but then forgot: Range Rover, we then thought, doesn't build vehicles that look like that.

But now, here it is, the first genuine departure for the company since the unfortunate little Freelander, which departed from the Rover formula in the wrong direction. Where the Freelander was downscale, the 2012 Evoque is decidedly upscale, a dramatic departure from the tall, tipsy-looking Range Rovers that are, nonetheless, absolutely unparalleled in off-road driving.

Unfortunately, only a handful of Range Rovers ever find their way onto roads more treacherous than a gravel driveway, understandable since Rovers can top $90,000, and even well-heeled owners are reluctant to tackle tough terrain.

Enter, then, the Evoque, which is certainly capable of off-roading, but doesn't have as much dedicated mud-mucking, rock-crawling equipment as other Rovers. The low, startlingly sleek Evoque is uncharacteristically style-first, function-second in design, and it works. I can't recall the last time I had so much interest in, and so many positive comments about, an SUV's design.

Under the hood, the Evoque, billed as Rover's greenest vehicle, is powered by a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The EPA rates it at 18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway. With 240 horsepower, acceleration is better than you'd expect, in part because of the perceptive six-speed automatic transmission, the surprisingly low weight, and the aluminum roof and hood.

That engine, built in Spain, is similar to Ford's EcoBoost engine found in vehicles like the Ford Explorer. The transmission comes from Japan, and the Evoque is built in England, by a manufacturer now owned by an Indian company — obviously an international effort.

The test Evoque, painted a distinctive "Colima Lime" green with a white roof, was a "coupe" design, meaning it had two doors. The two-door might be marginally sleeker looking, but the four-door would be our choice, given the much easier access to the rear seat, which is roomy enough for adults. Up front, the Evoque is a bit over-designed, but it certainly has a premium look and feel.

Off-road, the Evoque is certainly capable, but it shines on the road, where it handles even twisting roads with enthusiasm. The ride is a little firm on the highway but isn't bad. The Evoque is based on the Rover LR2 platform, but feels nothing like it. As you might suspect from the low rear roofline, outside visibility isn't great, but it's better than, say, the Toyota FJ Cruiser, the only other vehicle with styling that is remotely similar to the Evoque.

At its base price of $44,145, the Evoque is exceptionally well-equipped with everything you need, including leather upholstery and a "panoramic" glass roof with a power-operated blind, but there are plenty of options offered, and our test vehicle had most of them. A "Dynamic Premium" package added $7,995, and included an upgraded 825-watt, 17-speaker sound system; xenon headlights, a blind spot monitor, external cameras, a navigation system, voice control and interior and exterior trim enhancements. Heated seats, steering wheel and windshield added $1,000. Other features, including 20-inch wheels replacing the 19-inchers, plus shipping, helped the sticker price climb to $58,520.

In a market absolutely packed with good premium SUVs, Rover needed to do something to call attention to itself, and with the Evoque, it's done exactly that. Expect to see a lot of them on the road — and believe me, especially painted Colima Lime, you can't miss 'em.